Doctor Who: The Doctor's Regeneration Episodes Ranked Worst To Best

Not only was the kitchen sink thrown in for Matt Smith's farewell episode, the TARDIS swimming pool was chucked in for good measure too. However, it's testament to Smith's acting prowess that he effortlessly stays afloat above the barminess and gives a barnstorming performance.

In keeping with Christmas tradition, there is an overindulgence of Doctor Who's who of monsters, in which the Weeping Angels upstage the Daleks with a scene-stealing cameo. And the tying up of the Eleventh Doctor's entire story arc is done in a point and think "afterthought" with the sonic screwdriver.

Nevertheless, you can't helped but be charmed by the feel good fairtytale tone of Smith's swansong; becoming a hero and legend in the twee settlement of Christmas by saving countless Barnables over hundreds of years, and being lovingly surrounded by their hand-drawn pictures of those heroic endeavours.

In amongst the festive frenzy there are some quiet and thoughtful moments. The Doctor's sadness at losing Handles is akin to when Chuck Noland sees Wilson agonisingly float away from him in Cast Away. The brief but beautiful dawn over Trenzalore that follows gives us time to reflect that eleven's hour is over now. The clock is striking twelve's.

Goodnight Raggedy Man. Hello new kidneys: the change comes in two parts. First, we have the now-standard explosive regeneration energy streaming out from the Doctor that is hazardous to anyone in the immediate vicinity.

Then comes the now-standard pull-at-the-heartstrings monologue from the outgoing Doctor, which is fittingly capped off with Amy Pond's surprise appearance. After that comes the now-standard newly regenerated Doctor being unable to fly the TARDIS. Just mind that Tyrannosaurus rex.